Birding in Sorong regency of Indonesia

West Papua is one of the most important birdwatching destinations in the world. Its rainforest is the natural habitat of birds of paradise, parrots, kingfishers, hornbills, goshawks, friarbirds, flycatcher, flowerpeckers, frogmouth, pigeon, and etc.

The entrance gate to this region is Sorong. It is a city where visitors arrive to continue their trip to Raja Ampat islands, or to the interior areas of mainland New Guinea. There is a birding destination in the east of Sorong city. Its name is Klasow valley. It is covered by lowland rainforest. Birds such as sulphur crested cockatoo, blyth's hornbill, lesser birds of paradise, goliath cockatoo, pinon imperial pigeon, yellow faced myna, golden myna and shining flycatcher can be seen in the valley.

Pink-spotted Fruit Dove in the forest of Sorong regency

Birding Package

As a tour guide, I offer a 5-day/ 4-night birding tour in Klasow valley.
Price: please, contact us by e-mail

Day 1

Transfer from Sorong city to Klasow valley

Walk through the jungle to reach the birding ground

Birding around the clearing area inside the jungle village to see such birds as Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon), Golden Myna (Mino anais), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichogossus haematodus), Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus perlatus), Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), Moustached Tree-swift (Hemiprocne mystacea), various species of Friarbird, Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) and hopefully the Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) which is one of the members of paradise bird family.

Day 2

Wake up early in the morning at around 04.30. 

Walk up and down 2 steep hills to reach the display trees of Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). Sometimes the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) could be spotted in the same display trees.

Watching the paradise birds until approximately 09.00.

Walk back to the village

After breakfast, we will walk around the jungle to explore the flora and fauna in Klaglass area of the valley

Overnight stay in tents in Klaglass forest.

Day 3

We still have got time to do morning walk to a nearby river to see birds, butterfly and various plants of the jungle.
Klaglass is the place in the forest where wild pig, deer, cassowary bird and wild cow also live. We may see them during the jungle walk.
We can swim in the neaby by river in the evening.
We will also do night walk
Overnight stay in tents in Klaglass forest.

Day 4
After breakfast, we will dismantle our tents and walk back to the village.
Birding during the evening time in the clearing areas of the village.
Overnight stay in the village

Day 5
We will explore the forest in the morning.

After lunch, we will say Good Bye to local people and walk back to the main road where we will be transferred back to Sorong city by 4WD car.

To enhance the birding experience, we will provide spotting scope with tripod, a pair of binoculars and a field guide book "Birds of New Guinea" written by Bruce Beehler, Thane K. Pratt and Dale Zimmerman.
Please, bring a D-SLR camera with telephoto lens or a bridge camera such as Nikon P900 with optical zoom of 83x if you want to take pictures of birds.

How to get there?

• If you live in Asia, you could fly to Singapore, first. After that, take a flight by Silk Air to Manado city. After that you can fly to Sorong city by a domestic airline. I will meet you at the airport and arrange your trip to the valley.
• If you live in Europe, US or Australia, you can fly to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) and then by a domestic airliner, you could continue your trip to Sorong city.
• I will meet you at the airport and arrange your birding tour in Sorong.

In addition to watching birds, visitors may also see other wild animals such as boars, deers, wallabies, snakes, and birdwing butterflies while walking in the jungle of the valley.
If you are interested, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon) live in almost all lowland areas of New Guinea. It eats fruits from the forest. The indigenous Papuan people call it Kumkum.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon) in the forest of Klasow valley, Sorong regency - West Papua

This bird is often hunted as the source of protein by the indigenous Papuan people. In recent years the population of kumkum has been decreasing rapidly particularly near cities and towns due to sport hunting activities by city dwellers who use air gun. Such practice has to be stopped by local authorities if they are really serious in preserving tropical rainforest environment.
Watching birds in the jungle is often very difficult because birds are hidden behind branches and leaves of trees. So, the best spots to see birds are along the banks of rivers or forest clearings near a village that are created by local people as their vegetable or fruit gardens. To enhance birding experience in West Papua, birders need a good pair of binoculars, spotting scope and a field guide entitled "Birds of New Guinea."
If you are interested in taking a birding tour with me as your guide/ birding companion, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Large Fig Parrot from Klasow Valley

There are a lot of species of tropical birds that live in Klasow valley. One with beautiful colors is called Large Fig Parrot (Psittaculirostris desmarestii).

I am surprized to see that it is only a small bird. I don't know why ornitologists add the word "Large" on its name.
I used to guide 4 French tourists in January 2016. In the afternoon before sunset time, we went birding around the forest clearing in Klasow valley. Suddenly some Large Fig Parrot flew to a tree in front of us and played there for around several minutes. It was a nice birding experience to see them. We used a spotting scope to watch them.
I hope that I will be able to see them again in my next birding trip to the valley.
If you are interested in taking a birding trip in Sorong regency of West Papua, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Birding Tour in Sorong regency of New Guinea

I have just completed a rainforest birding tour with 2 British tourists in Klasow valley of Sorong regency of West Papua. This territory is located in the western region of New Guina island. West Papua has been a famous birdwatching destination in the world because it is the natural habitat of birds of paradise.
During the 2 days/ 2 nights hiking and birding tour in the jungle of Klasow valley, we watched a number of birds including Lesser Birds of Paradise, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Moustached Tree Swift, Large Fig Parrot, Spangled Drongo, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, and Yellow-billed Kingfisher, and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Eclectus Parrot.
In the last day of our birding tour, we saw a Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) in close distance. We could take a good picture of the bird. The bird was perching on a small branch of a tree approximately 10 meters away from us. I aimed my Fujifilm HS50EXR at the bird and made several pictures of the bird.

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra in the jungle of Klasow valley - Sorong regency of West Papua

There are other animals that we saw in the tropical jungle of Klasow valley such as wallabies, giant fruit bats, butterflies, beetles and colorful crickets.
How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• After that, take a domestic flight (served by such airlines as Garuda, Express, Sriwijaya and Nam Air) to Sorong city.
• I will meet you at the city to arrange your trip to Klasow valley.  

Aerial roots of Pandanus Tree with a British tourist as human scale

The usual duration of the rainforest birding and wildlife watching tour is between 3 to 6 days. If you are interested in taking a birding tour in this jungle, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Golden Myna from the Forest of Sorong Regency

Here are the pictures of Golden Myna (Mino anais) that I saw in the lowland forest of Klasow valley. It is located approximately 60 kilometers in the east of Sorong city. The best time to find this bird is between 16.00 up to 18.30 local time in the clearing areas that are made by local villagers for their vegetable garden and housings.

Golden Myna in the forest of Klasow valley, Sorong regency - West Papua

Three Golden Myna in the forest of Klasow valley

A couple of Golden Myna look very romantic while waiting for sunset because they often kiss each other.
As a tour guide, I offer birding trips to Klasow valley and other parts in West Papua for birdwatchers who want to see birds of New Guinea. A customized trip can be prepared upon request with places such as Klasow valley, Tambrauw mountains, Numfor island, Manokwari and Raja Ampat will become the vocal points of the trip. There are a lot of other birds which visitors can see during the birding tour, some of them include Lesser Birds of Paradise, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove or Frigate birds and Blyth's hornbill.
For further info, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Birdwatching in Lowland Forest of Sorong

Male Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)

Paradise Birds of Klasow Valley
Sorong is a city in West Papua province of Indonesia that has become the main gate to Raja Ampat. There is a huge valley in the east of Sorong that is famous among birdwatchers as the most recommended site for watching Paradise Birds. Its name is Klasow Valley. Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) and Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) live in tropical rainforest of the valley and can be watched together with hundreds of species other of birds.

Visitors who go to Malagufuk village of Klasow valley usually spend at least 4 days/ 3 nights in the jungle to watch birds, and other wild animals, as well as wild flowers and unique tropical plants of the rainforest. There is a small village in the middle of the forest. There are also two jungle huts that have been prepared for visitors. The huts are equipped with mattrasses, mosquito nets and toilets.
The birdwatching site for Lesser Birds of Paradise is approximately a 1.5-hour-walk from the village. Visitors who want to watch the paradise birds need to wake up early in the morning at 04.00 to have tea or coffee and to make preparation until 04.30. After that they have to start walking. Because it is still dark, head torch will be needed for the morning jungle walk. There is another birdwatching site for Lesser Birds of Paradise approximately 30 minutes walk from the village. But the tree where the birds dance is quite high. Each visitor who wants to watch birds at this site needs to bring a good pair of binoculars. Usually, the activity of Lesser BOP at their display trees decreases after 09.00.  Birdwatchers can walk back to the village to take a rest and have lunch.
Northern Cassowary

Northern Cassowary in lowland forest of Sorong regency

There is also Northern Cassowary that regularly visits the village to ask banana fruits and sugar cane from villagers. It is a very big bird and dangerous. I used to guide a group of visitors from Rockjumper. We spent 2 days/ 1 night in the valley to watch birds. We were quite lucky to be welcomed by this Northern Cassowary. But we have to keep safe distance from the bird. During our tour in Malagufuk of Klasow valley, we were able to watch King Bird of Paradise, Northern Cassowary, Yellow-faced Myna, Helmetted Friarbird, Black Lory, Boyer's Cuckooshrike, Red-cheeked Parrot, Glossy Swiftlet, Pinon Imperial Pigeon.
Birds are not the only animals that live in this lowland forest of Sorong, there are butterfly and beetles, cuscus possum, wallaby, fish and frogs in the river, snake, wild pigs, soa-soa lizard, dear and even crocodile in big river.

Want to visit Klasow valley?
Fly from your country to Jakarta (capital of Indonesia) or Manado city (by Silk Air from Singapore).  There are regular flights from these cities to Sorong city. I could meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and organize your trip to Klasow valley.

Booking
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in West Papua and needs me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Rainbow Bee-eater

Rainbow Bee-eater in Klasow Valley of Sorong regency
West Papua province of Indonesia

Sighting in Sorong forest
These are photographs of Rainbow Bee-eater that I saw in Klasow valley of Sorong regency. They were taken in May. According to field guide book, "Birds of New Guinea," the birds migrate to New Guinea during March to October. Rainbow Bee-eater perched on the branches of trees in the cleared forest in the morning waiting for insects. The sun was shining brightly. I walked closer to them and began to take pictures of them. They were not afraid of me when I shot them with my old Fujifilm HS50EXR.
Sighting in Manokwari

I also saw a large flock of Rainbow Bee-eater in lowland forest of Manokwari in June when I guided a French tourist. Perhaps, they had just arrived from a long flight crossing over the huge tropical rainforest of New Guinea. During the sunset time, they were flying very low over our heads when we sat on the sandbank of Mesirrokow river in a relaxed atmosphere. We really enjoyed the sighting very much. Unfortunately, it was getting dark, so, I could not take pictures of them.
The lowland forest of Manokwari is the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds such as Large-tailed Nightjar, Golden Myna, Little-ringed Plover, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Little Egret, Dollarbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, and a lot more.

Rainforest Bird and Wildlife Tour

Birdwatching in lowland forest of Manokwari

I offer hiking and birdwatching trips for visitors who are interested in watching paradise birds and other tropical birds of New Guinea, particularly in such places as Arfak mountains, Lowland Forest of Manokwari, Klasow valley in Sorong regency and tropical islands of Raja Ampat.
In general, a short birdwatching trip in Lowland Forest of Manokwari may last for 3 days/ 2 nights whereas a full bird tour to Arfak range, Klasow valley of Sorong and Waigeo island of Raja Ampat may last for 2 weeks.
Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Wildlife Tour in Susnguakti Forest of Manokwari

Cuscus Possum in Susnguakti Forest of Manokwari

There is a forest area in Manokwari that is suitable for wildlife watching. Its name is Susnguakti forest in the south of the city. Animals such as cuscus possum, blue-tailed lizard, butterflies, fireflies, and several species of birds of paradise live there. I personally have organized tens of wildlife tours to this forest.
There is a basecamp that local villagers built for visitors. It is covered by corrugated metal roofs and plastic tents. Mattrasses, pillows, cooking and eating utensils are available in the forest.
Here is the usual itinerary:
Day 1
We will meet you at the Rendani airport of Manokwari city, or at the hotel where you stay. After buying food supplies, we will go by car to Susnguakti forest. It takes 1 hour to reach it. Arriving in the forest, we will start hiking for one and a half hour to reach our basecamp. Water will be boiled and food is cooked when we start to install our dome tents, and sleeping materials. After having some tea or coffee with biscuits, we could go to the nearby forest area to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). We will enjoy dinner at around 19.00.
We could install white screen cloth and shoot it with light so that we could see the kinds of nocturnal insects that land on it.
Day 2

Early in the morning, we will wake up early to have tea or coffee. After that we could enjoy morning walk again to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise hoping that we will have better sighting of the paradise birds. At 09.00, we could move to higher ground to watch King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius).
After lunch, we could take a rest for a while or do jungle walk to see butterflies, lizards, or other insects.
At night, we will do jungle exploration to see cuscus possum (a nocturnal marsupial animal that comes out at night to find fruits and mating partner), sometimes spiky dragon lizard could be seen in the forest. A short visit to bamboo forest will allow us to see glowing mushrooms (especially during rainy season).
Day 3

We will do morning walk to watch Magnificent Riflebird, Hooded Butcherbird and Coconut Lorikeet that like to eat fruits and nectar from flowers around our basecamp.
After lunch, we can start descending the slopes of Susnguakti forest to main road again. A stop in the village is highly recommended where we will meet villagers. We will return to Manokwari city again after saying Good Bye to our local guides and villagers.

Extended Tour

For visitors who are interested in coral reef, we could extend our tour by snorkeling in some coral reef sites of Manokwari to see damselfish, butterflyfish, moorish idol, or anemonefish.

Booking
Please, contact me: Charles Roring by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180.